Enchanting, above and below
Residing in the southwest of Papua Island with 1,500 islands and the four larger ones that are Salawati, Waigeo, Batanta and Misool. Some of the islands in Raja Ampat are composed of clusters of rock formations, covered in lush, lowland tropical forests with extraordinary biodiversity, and some are endemic, such as the red bird of paradise, Wilson’s bird of paradise, and Waigeo cuscus.
Raja Ampat MPAs are essential for the manta rays’ population.
Some of the rivers and waterfalls in Raja Ampat are now popular and managed by local communities as tourism destinations, such as War Inkabom waterfall on Batanta Island and Malol on Misool Island. One of the more popular rivers in Raja Ampat is the Kalibiru in Mayalibit Bay. Apart from rivers and waterfalls, there is Lenmakana Lake in Misool, which is home to stingless jellyfish.
War Inkabom waterfall is located within Area III Dampier Strait MPA.
Coastal areas in Raja Ampat typically have white-sand beaches; in several villages in the Ayau Islands, the sand is so fine it almost feels like wheat. Intact mangrove forests can be found in the four larger islands, while seagrass is located in some parts of Misool and the islets.
One of the beaches in Ayau Islands.
75% of the world’s coral reefs can be found beneath Raja Ampat waters, making it the ‘home’ for more than 1,600 species of reef fish, 699 molluscs, at least 15 species of marine mammals, 5 species of turtles, and focal species such as sharks and rays. Raja Ampat is one of the few places known where reef and oceanic mantas share a common habitat.
Read this before visiting Raja Ampat.
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